Compare towns

Whitefield vs Middlesex vs Colebrook

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whitefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Colebrook has the most affordable homes ($192k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureWhitefieldMiddlesexColebrook
People
Population
2,516Highest
1,943Lowest
1,988
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
-9.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.4±4.6
32% above U.S.
44.4±3.9Lowest
14% above U.S.
53.7±4.9Highest
38% above U.S.
Colebrook and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.3%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Middlesex and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.6%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Whitefield and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
16.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Whitefield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$63,125±$12k
22% below U.S.
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above U.S.
$51,159±$6kLowest
37% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$240,400±$22k
28% below U.S.
$376,300±$40kHighest
13% above U.S.
$192,200±$59kLowest
42% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,077±$160
24% below U.S.
$1,333±$359Highest
6% below U.S.
$750±$238Lowest
47% below U.S.
Middlesex and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,394
41% above U.S.
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
$4,350Lowest
39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.9%±15.6
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±19.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Colebrook and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
27 minHighest
4% above U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
Work from home
7.2%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #86 of 120 in NH — —
School district White Mountains Regional School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Colebrook School District
High school in town White Mountains Regional High School None in town Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H)
Students per teacherat that high school
7.9Lowest
—
8.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.